Following dwindling resources from the federation account to Osun State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has sought the approval of the state House of Assembly to withdraw N1.25 billion from the Omoluabi Conservation Fund to assist government in the provision of infrastructure in the state.
He sought the approval through a letter to the Assembly, dated November 27, 2015, which was read by the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, at the plenary,  yesterday.
Omoluabi Conservation Fund Law 2012, sponsored by the executive, was passed by the Assembly as a way of bailing the state out of emergency whenever such occured.
According to the Speaker, the letter read: “The law stipulates that an amount not exceeding 50 per cent of the outstanding balance in the fund can be withdrawn upon the approval of the Assembly to address such emergency.
“You are quite aware that for some months now, the state government has been having serious financial challenges which have been preventing it from meeting some of its basic functions.
“This development is largely attributable to the national economic downturn aggravated by the continuous decline in revenue accrueable to the state from the Federation Account in the last two years.
“The insufficient fund has made it difficult for government to meet the basic needs of the people, especially the provision of infrastructure to enhance physical development of the state which is certainly an emergency that is not palatable.
“It is against this background that I seek the approval of the Honourable House of Assembly to withdraw the sum of N1.25 billion being 50 per cent of the N2.5 billion in the Osun Omoluabi Conservation Fund to assist government in the provision of infrastructure in the state.”
Subsequently, the Speaker directed that the letter be forwarded to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for proper consideration.
He directed that the committee should refer to the law, ascertain whether the request was in compliance with the law and report back to the house within one week, with a view to giving the request the appropriate attention it deserves.
Meanwhile, the Assembly concluded the consideration of the Land Use Charge Bill at the committee of the whole, as the Speaker directed the Clerk at Table to produce the clean copy of the bill by next week Tuesday for the final passage.
VANGUARD

Photos of  Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, the Host Governor, State of Osun,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Guest  Lecturer/Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the Chairman of the Occasion, former Vice Chancellor University of Uyo, Prof. Fola Lasisi during the Seventh Annual Public Lecture of Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students, Obafemi Awolowo University Chapter in Honour of Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, at the University Conference Centre, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, on Tuesday 01-12-2015.

Host Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle), Alhaji
Lateef Femi Okunnu (left) and Guest Lecturer/Oyo State Governor,
Senator Abiola Ajimobi during the Seventh Annual Public Lecture of
Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students, Obafemi Awolowo University
Chapter in Honour of Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, at the University
Conference Centre, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, on Tuesday 01-12-2015.

From left – Guest Lecturer/Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola
Ajimobi, Host Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Alhaji
Lateef Femi Okunnu and Oyo State Chairman All Progressive Congress
(APC), Chief Akin Oke during the Seventh Annual Public Lecture of
Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students, Obafemi Awolowo University
Chapter in Honour of Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, at the University
Conference Centre, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, on Tuesday 01-12-2015.

From right – Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, Host Governor, State of Osun,
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Guest Lecturer/Oyo State Governor, Senator
Abiola Ajimobi and Chairman of the Occasion, former Vice Chancellor
University of Uyo, Prof. Fola Lasisi during the Seventh Annual Public
Lecture of Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students, Obafemi Awolowo
University Chapter in Honour of Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, at the
University Conference Centre, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, on Tuesday
01-12-2015.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has charged Nigerians to call on God for the sustainability and revival of the ailing economy of the country.

The Governor stated this while addressing Christian faithful at a two-day crusade organised by The Deeper Life Christian Ministry in Osogbo.

Aregbesola noted that the only way out of the current sociopolitical, economic and religious crises in the country is for Nigerians and all religious leaders, irrespective of religion and background to continuously seek the face of God for the good of the country.
He held that one of the ways to ameliorate the current economic situation of the country is for all to remain united and in fervent in prayers in order to liberate Nigeria from its present cash crunch.
The Governor also tasked religious leaders to put before God various challenges facing the country, saying without their quick intervention, the nation’s economy may be heading for the worst.
He described the visit of the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Folorunso Kumuyi as timely, saying his evangelical mission to Osun State would go a long way in helping his administration and the good people of the state.
According to Aregbesola, “Without mincing words, our highly revered man of God has come to our state at the right time because Nigeria as a whole needs spiritual deliverance.
“We cannot but plead to our religious leaders to help this country in prayers, fasting and counseling for total delivery and liberation”.
The Governor lamented the sharp drop in the global prices of crude oil, saying the nation has reached a stage where government at all levels must rise to the occasion and shift attention from the dwindling fortunes of crude oil to agriculture.
Aregbesola called for a real economic diversification, adding that, not until the country’s economy is diversified and sustained, the dwindling federal allocation to the states will continue.

In his sermon, the General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor Williams Folorunso Kumuyi charged Nigerians to move closer to God and always seek for His divine intervention in whatever they do.
Kumuyi attributed the challenges facing Nigeria to “lack of dedication to the will of God” among people, saying time has come for everyone to hold on to God and seek His mercy, favour and blessings.
He said, “We shall not relent on our efforts as men of God to achieve total liberation for all and sundry. This is also the time for us to move closer to our creator and devote ourselves to Him to lead us through and save us from this artificial bondage”, Pastor Kumuyi stated.

Pictures of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, kick starts the final of the football competition tagged: Governors Cup in commemoration of the first anniversary of his second term in office, at the Osogbo City Stadium last weekend.

Photos of the Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila, the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the Chairman of Occasion, Dr.Yemi Farounbi, during the Official Commissioning of Rave F.M Radio, at Agunbelewo, Area Osogbo, State of Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

From left- Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila,
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman of Occasion,
Dr.Yemi Farounbi and King Dr. Sunny Ade, during the Official
Commissioning of Rave F.M Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila (left),
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle), and Chairman
of Occasion, Dr.Yemi Farounbi (right), during the Official
Commissioning of Rave F.M Radio, at Agunbelewo, Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

From right- Chairman of Occasion, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, Governor State of
Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7,
Mr. Femi Adefila, and his Wife Dr. Bimbola Adefila during the Official
Commissioning of Rav F.M Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

From right- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chief
Ebenezer Babatope, Former Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Erelu
Olusola Obada and King Dr. Sunny Ade during the Official
Commissioning of Rav F.M Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila and Governor
State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola during the Official
Commissioning of Rav e F.M Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

From left- Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila,
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman of Occasion,
Dr. Yemi Farounbi, King Dr. Sunny Ade, Managing Director De Rauf,
Comrade Amitolu Shittu, and Chairman All Progressive Congress (APC),
State of Osun, Prince Adegboyega Famodun during the Official
Commissioning of Rav e F.M Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

From left- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman
of Occasion, Dr. Yemi Farounbi and Chief Executive Officer Rave FM
91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila during the Official Commissioning of Rav e F.M
Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of Osun, on Thursday
26/11/2015.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said all projects embarked on by his administration will be completed before the end of his tenure.
Aregbesola said that he was not bothered by politicians “fabricating lies over the state of finance of Osun State.”
The governor spoke in Osogbo, Osun State capital at the opening of a new privately-owned radio station, Rave FM, Dr. Yemi Farounbi.
Farounbi is a veteran journalist turned politician.
At the event, Aregbesola said all “detractors and opposition will soon come to appreciate my administration when all projects embarked on are completed before the end of my tenure in office.”
Though he acknowledged that things were financially tough for the state, he said help was on the way for the state.
He said the Gbongan-Akoda Road project and others in the state would commence before the first quarter of 2016 and that no project would be abandoned by his administration at the end of its tenure.
He said, “I will not be disturbed by bad comments from some people about my policies because I believe in God who sent me to Osun and supports me.
“What we are doing in Osun may not be appreciated now, but it will become what people will praise later; we came here and all we have been doing has been inspired by God.”
Aregbesola described as shameful the exaggeration of the debt profile of the state by some parties.
He said, “If we borrowed N800bn, like some (people) said, how could we have been able to pay the loan interest? How could we have survived? Though we took loan, and that is the only way we could have brought development to the state; as tough as it is, God and His help is on the way and Osun shall overcome.”
Farounbi thanked the governor for his support even though they belonged to different parties.
He said, “I remember when I was nominated as an ambassador and I needed the support of two senators from my state. I went to Senator Adeyeye, who is my brother, and all the senators in my state were from the Action Congress of Nigeria.
“It was Adeyeye who told me that I needed not to be bothered as the governor (Aregbesola) had instructed all the senators from the state to support me. Without meeting you (Aregbesola), you made me proud. I am grateful for all you have done, even though, I did not see you and despite the fact that we are not from the same political background.”
Meanwhile, the governor on Friday also inaugurated the reconstruction of Olaiya-Junction-Asubiaro-Ita Olokan Road in Osogbo, the state capital.
PUNCH

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori,  exchanging pleasantries with Traditional Rulers, during the flag-off of the reconstruction of Olaiya Junction-Asubiaro-Ita Olokan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 27-11-2015

From right, Managing Director (Construction), RATCON Construction Co. Limited, Engr. Fouad Howayek; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works State of Osun, Engr. Nerudeen Adeagbo; Member State House of Assembly, Hon. Biodun Awolola; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon.Akintunde Adegboye and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, during the flag-off of reconstruction of Olaiya Junction-Asubiaro-Ita Olokan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 27-011-2015 

From right, Managing Director (Construction), RATCON Construction Co. Limited, Engr. Fouad Howayek; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works State of Osun, Engr. Nerudeen Adeagbo; Member State House of Assembly, Hon. Biodun Awolola; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon.Akintunde Adegboye and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, during the flag-off of reconstruction of Olaiya Junction-Asubiaro-Ita Olokan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 27-011-2015

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, exchanging pleasnatries with Traditional Rulers, during the flag-off of the reconstruction of Olaiya Junction-Asubiaro-Ita Olokan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 27-11-2015

As the present administration in Osun enters its 6th year in office, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said that the economic hardship in the state has come to an end.

The ‎Governor stated this during the official commissioning of the new Ife/Orile-Owu 33KV feeder line at Orile-Owu, Ayedaade Local Government Area.

Aregbesola noted that his administration is committed to making life meaningful and abundant to the people of Osun hence the infrastructural development in the nooks and crannies of the state.

The Governor commended the people of Orile-Owu and its environs for their patience over years before electricity was restored back to the communities with a total cost of N225 million.

He held that his administration decided to assist the service providers by rehabilitating the Gbongan-Ikire 33KV feeder line, making it to end at Araromi-Owu, Odeyinka and three farm settlements of Mokore, Oyere-Aborisade and Ago-Owu.

Aregbesola stressed that it is quite clear that the new 33KV relief feeder line will ensure stable power supply to the farm settlements thus stemming rural/urban drift by encouraging the teeming populace to return to farming in the farm settlement.

According to him, ” I want to use this opportunity to admonish us to return to the farms, what we used to rely on as a country and state is no longer there. Oil has now dipped seriously, even at about 41 Dollars per barrel from a price of over 100 Dollars, Nigeria still cannot sell her oil in the international market.

“Anyone who doe‎s not want to be wired by hunger must return to the farms, I want to assure you that more people will be coming from the cities to this place, please try and get enough place for them to stay, everybody must return to agriculture to survive.

“Our administration recently gave hectares of land to IITA for farming and with the electrification of Orile-Owu and other farm settlements, there will be boost in agriculture around these areas, we all need to take this advantage to take to massive farming for the growth of our state.

“There is no town or village in Osun that has not been touched interms of infrastructural development by our administration and with what we have seen happening to our oil, showed that we can no longer depend on it, therefore, I want to implore us to pay our taxes for us to continue to enjoy government,” the governor emphasised.

‎Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, Engr. Oriolowo commended Aregbesola for his ingenuity in creating the ministry in Osun.

He noted that the agelong isolation of some settlements from the National electricity grid is now addressed with the construction of the new 33KV outdoor bay at 132/33KV transformer stations in Ajebandele in Ile-Ife.

He noted that the project cost the state‎ government N225, 065, 749.92 and was constructed with fibre cross arms and conductor size of 150mm2 on reinforced concrete poles with shorts pannage of 60m.

He said, “I want to thank Mr. Governor for his strong support for our Ministry which has enabled a total of 193 electrification projects completed the ministry and CSDP at the cost of N1,487, 015, 127. 18.

“Currently, three other feeder lines namely: Gbogan/Ikire, Osogbo/Ila, Ibokun/Osunjela and Iwo/Ejigbo are being rehabilitated while another new one is being constructed to link the 132/33KV transformer statations at Ilesa to Fadahunsi injection station in Ilesa”.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said that states of the federation must look inward for their survival as funds coming to them from the federation can no longer support their development projects.

Aregbesola said with Osun’s receipt of N55 million for the month of September, the message was clear that all avenues hitherto untapped must now be examined in order to sustain development initiatives.

The Governor stated this at the commencement of the reconstruction of Orita-Olaiya-Ita-Olokan Road at Olaiya Junction to commemorate the 5th year of the Aregbesola-led government in Osun.

The project is part of the designs to ensure smooth transportation within the state capital, Osogbo.

He pointed out that money coming from the Federation Account has dipped badly hence the need for people of the state to look inward in advancing the course of the state by returning to Agriculture.

He said, “We must at this point tell ourselves the truth, there is no money coming from the federation account, 34 million barrels of Niger‎ia’s crude oil are on the sea without buyers.

“Money coming from the Federation Account has dipped seriously and our hope for survival is in our hands, what our forefathers lived on was agriculture.

“We must now go back to the farms and work. We also need to pay our taxes so that government can meet its responsibilities. For September, our state got N55.8 million. The money we received cannot pay for the power supply by IBEDC that we use at the state Secretariat‎ monthly”. The governor told people at the programme.

Advising people to adhere to town planning rules, Aregbesola also added that the issue of separating houses during road constructions and expansions could have been avoided if there had been strict adherence to town planning rules in the past.

He emphasised that his government regret and offer sincere sympathy to those that will be affected with the construction of the road which his administration is embarking on.

The Governor admonished those affected to  see this as their own sacrifice of the present administration’s effort to enhance the status of our cities for better living conditions of the generality of the people.

Aregbesola stated that Mess rs RATCON Construction Company Limited will be undertaking the reconstruction of the road at the cost of N985,115,410.78 million.

He said, “The expansion of the road and the need to have a reasonable setback unfortunately meant that some buildings are already standing in the way and has to be separated. This could have been avoided if there had been strict adherence to town planning rules in the past.

“We regret this and offer sincere sympathy to those affected. They should see this as their own sacrifice in our efforts to beautify our city and develop a decent human environment. Nevertheless, we have set aside the sum of N392 million to the 127 people whose buildings were affected”.

The Governor appealed to people of the state to bear with government on the pains and discomforts associated with the road construction projects embarked upon, especially Gbongan-Akoda Road, noting that the delay was due to the unexpected financial  challenges that befell the nation.

He assured that all the projects embarked on by his government will be completed before the end of the present administration.
The Managing Director, Messrs RATCON Construction, Engr. Fouad Howayek held that Aregbesola deserves commendation for the massive on-going road construction works in the state.

He noted that RATCON has been partner with Osun since the first term of Aregbesola’s administration in the area of rehabilitation and construction of road projects.

‎According to him, “This kind of unprecedented achievement recorded in the last four years is an attestation to the fact that Mr. Governor’s passion for the rapid development of the state is undisputed,” The RATCOM boss stated

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engr. Nurudeen Adeagbo, stressed that the dual carriage way of Olaiya-Asubiaro-Ita Olokan spanning 2.8km forms the second phase of of on-going rehabilitation of selected roads in Osogbo township.

He stated that the road could have been executed along with others in the first phase if not for the paucity of funds in the state, adding that a total of N392 million will be required to pay compensation to people whose property will be affected by the reconstruction.

‎Adeagbo said, “This road project is to be executed by Messrs RATCON Construction Company Ltd. The company that handled the completion of 21 selected Osogbo township roads totaling 26.69km and the on-going Bisi Akande trumpet road awarded at N29.22 billion”

SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OSUN, OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA, AT THE TURNING OF SOD OF ORITA-OLAIYA – ITA-OLOKAN ROAD AT ORITA-OLAIYA JUNCTION ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2015
 
Protocols,
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
I welcome you all to this event, one of the many that have distinguished our administration as leader in infrastructure development in this country. We are here to turn the sod on the reconstruction of Orita-Olaiya to Ita-Olokan Road.
This 2.8 kilometre road, at the very heart of Osogbo, is very crucial to the economic and social lives of the city. It is a link between the old and the modern parts of the city. While the Olaiya end is in the emergent new Osogbo, the Ita-Olokan end is in the very heart of the old city. The road leads to two major hospitals and the Osun Grove. The Grove, we are aware, is a global centre that attracts visitors from all over the world, especially during the Osun Osogbo festival. This same road interestingly accommodates the state’s correspondents’ chapel and the Osogbo offices of notable national newspapers. It also provides exits to Ilesa and Ibokun.
The deplorable condition of this road, given its importance, is not befitting to our capital city. Instead, it should be used to make an architectural statement. Indeed, it has been on the priority list from day one and if not for the financial challenges we have had in the recent past, we should have done this at least two years ago.
The reconstruction work on the road will see to its widening, to enable it carry more traffic, especially at the narrow parts towards Ita-Olokan. There will be provision of pedestrian walkway, lay byes (Bus Stops) and a slip road at the Olaiya end, coming from Abere. Messrs Ratcon will undertake the reconstruction at the cost of N985,115,410.78 million.
The expansion of the road and the need to have a reasonable setback unfortunately meant that some buildings are already standing in the way and has to be separated. This could have been avoided if there had been strict adherence to town planning rules in the past. We regret this and offer sincere sympathy to those affected. They should see this as their own sacrifice in our efforts to beautify our city and develop a decent human environment. Nevertheless, we have set aside the sum of N392 million to the 127 people whose buildings were affected.
At the inception of our administration, we had a vision of progress for Osun, of which road infrastructure development is a vital component. Because of the paramountcy of road transportation for the movement of people and goods in Nigeria, including Osun, we also accorded it priority attention in our development scheme.
Consequently, we came up with a map for the comprehensive development of our road network. These encompass rural and local roads, intra-city and inter-city roads, as well as inter-state roads. This road plan cuts across the length and breadth of Osun.
But we conceived our road infrastructure development plan in the full consciousness that people do not commute on road maps; they travel on actually marked-out asphalted surfaces. Consequently, we embarked on giving concrete effect to what we have conceived in our mind and mapped out on paper.
All over the state we commenced in earnest the construction of new roads, the reconstruction of some others, and the repair and rehabilitation of old and dilapidated ones.
This project is the continuation of the bigger Osogbo township road development project which stands out as a product of a visionary road map. They are intentionally aimed at making Osogbo the truly modern state capital it deserves to be.
In view of this, the roads are designed to ease transportation within the city, as well as in and out of it. Together. the roads stretch for 26.31 kilometres. You will recall that on April 24 last year, 21 roads in this projects were commissioned. They include: Station Road to Ebenezer Hotel Road; Boorepo to Elelede Junction Road; Elelede to Gbaemu Road; Gbodofon to Gbaemu Junction Road; and Adesina Crescent in GRA.
Others include: Oja Oba Road to Plantain Area; Balogun Biiro to Oke Baale Road; Alafia Street to Church Street, Awolowo Way; Coca-Cola to Capital Hotel Road; Oke Onitea Road to Anaye Market Junction; the Road from Opposite Capital Hotel to Oroki Road; Oroki Estate to Ilobu Road; Odetoyinbo to Heritage Hotel Road with Spur; and Kola Balogun Road Junction to Fiwasaye Olohunosebi Junction.
There are also the Osunbukola to Ede Road; John Mackay Road to Oke Baale; the road from Tanisi to Keji Adigun Street; Adams Street to Mercy Land and Road Spur; Steel Rolling Camp to Kabelo Filling Station; and Rehabilitated Ifeloju Omo-West Road.
A closer look at these roads would reveal a deliberate pattern of an Inner Ring network of roads within Osogbo which connect and complement the existing Outer Ring Road around the city.
These are in Osogbo alone. In Ilesa, we reconstructed and commissioned 17 township roads. These roads constitute an inner ring road that eased vehicular movements and decongested the traffic in the city by taking travellers outside the city away from the city centre.
In Ede, 13 township roads have been repaired through direct labour. They have now been completed.
In the different Federal Constituencies in the state, 79 kilometres of intra-city roads were constructed and rehabilitated. In addition to the intra-city roads, 20 other roads traversing the cities, and covering a total of 294.27 kilometres, were completed.
We are also constructing six selected roads, covering more than 74.1 kilometres, in the six geo-political zones of Osun. We inherited eight road rehabilitation projects of 144.29 kilometres from the previous administration which we have completed.
There are four more gigantic projects that we have embarked upon. These are: the reconstruction into a dual carriageway of the 36.85-kilometre road from Osogbo to Ila-Odo on the state’s border with Kwara State; the Gbongan-Orileowu-Ijebu-Igbo Road, which is also a dual carriageway.
The third is the Omoluabi Motorway, a dual-carriage road from Akoda to Gbongan Junction, with its Bisi Akande Trumpet Interchange.
Osogbo East Bypass Road is in the list of our major road construction undertaking. The East Bypass is a 17.5-kilometre road that will have a railway underpass at Ofatedo, an interchange at Ataoja, and two bridges across the Osun River. It is at an advanced stage of completion.
In continuation of our road development plan for Osun, we embarked upon and completed (in record time) the construction of 218 kilometres of road in all of our local government areas, including the Area Office.
We appeal to our people to bear with us on the pains and discomforts associated with the road construction projects we are undertaking, especially on the Gbongan-Akoda Road. This is due to the unexpected challenges amounting to financial disaster that befell this nation, especially under the ancien regime. I want to assure us all that we will complete these road projects before the completion of our tenure.
There are those who are scoffing at our road construction projects, complaining that we are slow and even accused us of taking on the big projects that are clearly federal roads. One of my defeated opponents, a former federal legislator, who was also defeated in a senatorial election, went about town, spreading falsehood by claiming that he had awarded the contracts for the federal road projects and that he had paid the contractors. This can only come from an inebriated mind. Right thinking people are at a loss of the capacity in which he could award federal contracts and effect payments when his highest political attainment was as chairman of a senate committee and a four-time defeated governorship aspirant. He was defeated at the election proper, defeated at the Election Petitions Tribunal, defeated at the Appeal Court and finally defeated at the Supreme Court.
However, I want you all to know that we completed our projects in record time. The Osogbo, Ilesa, Ede, Ife and the intra-city roads (we rehabilitated or constructed) were in record time. Messrs Ratcon that handled the Osogbo inner ring road even challenged them last year to bring any proof of similar projects completed in lesser time. They are still searching.
Secondly, we undertake the roads that we consider crucial to the economic and social lives of the good people of Osun, when the Federal Government under the control of their party failed miserably to do it. They are the least qualified to question our performance that has been described as sterling, given our modest financial resources.
It is my fervent hope that Messrs Ratcon will live up to their billing, do a good job and put smile on the faces of the residents and users of the road in Osogbo and beyond.
I must thank all those that have been of assistance in the conception of this project – the engineers and officials of the Ministry of Works, our financial partners and all men (and women) of goodwill.
I thank you all for your kind attention.
Osun a dara!